Stash IPA by Independence Brewing is being evaluated as an American IPA (Category 21A) from the 2015 BJCP guidelines.
This beer pours dark gold color with hazy clarity. A bone white, rocky head forms and is quite sturdy. A very nice and interesting hop aroma of moderate intensity consisting of a little bit of everything; there are notes of citrus, tropical fruits, dank, and spicy hops. There is a lot malt aroma of grainy base malts and a slight breadiness. Any esters in this beer are lost behind the multi-faceted hop profile.
On the sip, a moderate-high bitterness is prominent with a complex hop flavor noted in the aroma. The dank notes of this beer manifest itself more in the flavor and as well as a sticky resin character. There is a nice spiciness to the flavor as well that appears to be both boil hop additions and from the dry hop derived. There is a very low minerality in the flavor of this beer as well. Low malt flavor is both grainy and bready. After the sip, this beer finishes fairly dry and an after taste of sticky dankness prevails. This is a medium bodied beer with ample carbonation. The hop oils linger after the swallow and add a touch of slickness on the tongue.
Overall, this is a well done West Coast style IPA. A executed hop formulation in this beer allowed it to hit all the major IPA hop flavors without being muddled or all over the place as they are both striated yet blend together nicely.